List of regulation rollbacks for oil, gas and coal industry

By MATTHEW BROWNJanuary 27, 2019

Under President Donald Trump, federal agencies have moved to roll back regulations for companies that extract, transport and burn oil, gas and coal. Government analyses show companies will save billions of dollars in compliance costs, but the trade-off often will be adverse impacts to public health and the environment.

CLEAN POWER PLAN: Administration is proposing replacement of EPA’s 2015 rule that aimed to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by focusing on carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants. The changes are projected to increase annual coal production by 33 million-40 million tons by 2030.

Industry savings: $3.7 billion-$6.4 billion (2023-2037)

Impacts: Emissions increases of up to 61 million tons of carbon dioxide, 52,000 tons of sulfur oxides and 39,000 tons of nitrous oxides annually by 2030; health effects including up to 1,400 premature deaths, 750 non-fatal heart attacks in 2030; reductions in visibility; ecosystem effects.

Status: Pending

COAL ASH DISPOSAL: Administration removed many mandates from 2015 EPA rule aimed at preventing hundreds of spills from toxic coal ash dumps over the next century.

Industry savings: $397 million-$605 million (100 years)

Impact: EPA says that, with other existing federal and state regulations, there will be no additional risks to human health and environment. Critics disagree.

Status: Final

FRACKING: Administration rescinded 2015 Interior Department rule that lowered the risk of water contamination from an oil and gas drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”

MERCURY POLLUTION: Administration wants to eliminate 2016 EPA rule that determined it was “appropriate and necessary” to reduce power plant emissions of mercury. It says EPA should not have considered up to $90 billion in secondary benefits in reaching its decision.

VEHICLE FUEL EFFICIENCY: To limit a 2016 Department of Transportation proposal that called for more stringent fuel efficiency standards, the administration seeks to freeze them after 2020.

Industry savings: revenues on up to 79 billion gallons of additional fuel sales (for vehicles built through 2029)

Impacts: Emission increases of 961 million tons of carbon dioxide, 1.7 million tons of methane; administration says its proposal would prevent up to 1,000 highway deaths annually, a finding disputed by former EPA officials and outside experts.